TV channels & antenna towers in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a town of about 3,900 people in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 33 licensed TV transmitters: 10 full-power, 3 Class A, 19 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 21 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 6 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 11 transmitters are within 25 miles, 14 between 25 and 45 miles, and 8 farther out. Four of the 10 network stations in range are licensed to Monterey, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Monterey's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 8.2 (KSBW), Fox on channel 46.2 (KION-TV), PBS on channel 25 (KQET), CW on channel 35 (KCBA), Telemundo on channel 48 (KSTS), Univision on channel 14 (KDTV-DT) and MeTV on channel 27.1 (KMBY-LD). No CBS affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KPIX-TV in San Francisco, CA, 88 miles to the north. No NBC affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KNTV in San Jose, CA, 83 miles to the north. Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 2 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Point your antenna ENE, at about 71°. The main network towers for Carmel-by-the-Sea sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Four network stations, KCBA, KQET, KSBW and KSMS-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 27 miles northeast of Carmel-by-the-Sea (59° ENE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Carmel-by-the-Sea at fair strength or better, 57% arrive from the northeast; the rest are spread across two other directions.

All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Carmel-by-the-Sea, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Carmel-by-the-Sea is KQET (PBS), 27 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.

With 21 stations at fair strength or better, Carmel-by-the-Sea ranks 606th of 1,078 places in California: fewer than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 17 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

48% of California's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Monterey, 3.5 miles away.